By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer The Curry County Courthouse is adding another facet to its security system — a security officer. Curry County commissioners approved a security officer position for the courthouse during Tuesday’s regular meeting. The District Court will provide $95,000 over the next two fiscal years to pay the salary of a […]

By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer An agreement is in place that would allow the Curry County Mounted Patrol use of the county fairgrounds arena for the Pioneer Days Rodeo. The Curry County Commission will vote today on a proposal in which a scoreboard the Mounted Patrol purchased three years ago for about $10,000 will […]

By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer The Clovis City Commission will vote today whether to approve an agreement with Australian company to build a biodiesel facility at the Clovis Industrial Park. The agreement would provide American Rewewable Fuels 25 acres of city-owned land to build an $80 million facility in the northern corner of the […]

Editorial It seems as if every American president has to make one last, desperate attempt to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and it’s easy to see why. Former President Carter has been using those Camp David meetings that eventually led to a peace — it turned out to be a “cold peace,” but at least it’s […]

By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer Smokers will have to stay 25 feet from county-owned property before lighting up under a new ordinance approved Tuesday by Curry County Commissioners. Penalties for violating the ordinance include a $100 fine for the first violation, $200 for a second violation within a year of the first; and $500 […]

By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer Department heads in Curry County can become contracted employees with benefits under a new personnel policy. The policy passed Tuesday at the County Commissioners meeting in a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Frank Blackburn opposed the new policy. “My thinking of a contracted employee has always been one that’s hired to […]

The Marshall Junior High Concert Choir had received a superior rating in sight reading at the Southeastern District Music Festival in Hobbs. … Steve Davis was slated to participate in the New Mexico North-South all-star basketball game. Four major colleges had expressed interest in signing him to a scholarship agreement, the Clovis News-Journal reported. … […]

By Freedom Newspapers An agreement by the Iraqi cabinet on a draft of a new law to govern the distribution of oil revenues could be the most hopeful long-term sign in Iraq in a long time. The pact might reduce a great deal of the tension and resentment that feeds violence in that country, even […]

By Freedom Newspapers Winston Churchill famously argued it is better to “jaw-jaw” than to “war-war.” If that’s the general principle, a new preliminary agreement struck with North Korea by the United States and North Korea’s neighbor countries is probably a modestly hopeful sign. But it will bear watching. Fortunately the deal is structured so that […]

By Karl Terry: Freedom Newspapers A district court judge ruled Monday the state could pursue the death penalty — at least for now — in the case of a man accused of kidnapping and killing an elderly Portales couple almost two years ago. Prior to Monday’s probable cause hearing, attorneys worked out an agreement that […]

By Jean Verlich: CNJ News Editor The Clovis City Commission approved an agreement at Thursday’s meeting with ARES Corp. for construction of a $17.5 million bio-diesel plant at the Clovis Industrial Park. The deal includes the donation of 10 acres of land at the industrial park valued at about $100,000 and construction of water and […]

Freedom Newspapers A 23-year-old Portales man signed a plea agreement last week in connection with the theft in March of more than $600,000 from an armored car service that employed him, according to court documents filed in 9th Judicial District Court in Portales. According to 9th Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler, Scott Kirby agreed to […]

CNJ staff Clovis Mayor David Lansford plans to sign a $9.5 million agreement Friday to improve the city’s wastewater system. The ceremony will be held at the Clovis Industrial Development Corp. office at 10 a.m. The agreement is between the New Mexico Environment Department and the city of Clovis and will enable the city to […]

Freedom Newspapers We have supported increasing the number of immigrants allowed to stay in America and become citizens. But the Senate immigration reform agreement, as written, does not really accomplish that; it’s just as well that the U.S. Senate on Friday defeated the compromise bill. A bipartisan agreement hammered out Thursday lost the next day […]

By Marlena Hartz: CNJ staff writer Eastern New Mexico entities have mapped out a system of accountability for donations pledged in support of “Operation Keep Cannon.” A mutual aid agreement was signed Friday and will be in place in a matter of days, officials said. The agreement, drafted between the city of Clovis, the city […]

Freedom Newspapers PORTALES — Prosecutors say a plea agreement may be reached before a Portales teen goes on trial Monday for murder. Richard Baca, 19, of Portales, is accused of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. His trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. before Ninth Judicial Court Judge Steven Quinn, but Ninth District […]

By David Irvin: CNJ staff writer A Clovis teenager pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the shooting death last year of an acquaintance. Adam Crespin, 19, killed Lavon Harris with a shotgun in the early morning hours of March 3, 2004, at the Clovis […]

By Mike Linn: CNJ news editor A man accused of shooting a Clovis police detective in December of 2002 signed a plea agreement Friday that could result in a jail sentence of more than 30 years. Timothy Burke, 52, agreed to plead guilty to aggravated battery on a police officer, three counts of aggravated assault […]

Hail Judge Quinn! Plea was wrong District Judge Stephen Quinn on Monday rejected a plea agreement involving a man accused of shooting a Clovis police detective. Keith Bessette has recovered from his wounds and is now working with police in Iraq. Timothy Michael Burke, 52, is paralyzed from the chest down, a result of officers […]